Even if you are not a big fan of trucks, you have to admit there’s a lot to like about the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor. It has at least 450 horsepower (336 kilowatts) coming from a biturbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and it can really go off road. About the latter, Ford has teamed up with FOX to create a new set of shocks to make the high-performance truck even more capable on rough roads.

While the previous model came with shocks measuring 2.5 inches in diameter, the 2017MY welcomes larger 3-inch shocks which provide 44 percent more volume, thus boosting heat dissipation and fade resistance. Ford says it has almost two inches more suspension travel than before, now at 13 inches at the front axle and 13.9 inches at the back. Overall, that’s a 15-percent increase in suspension travel to make the new F-150 Raptor more competent when tackling difficult terrain.

To show off the truck’s off-road prowess, the Blue Oval company has released a promo video featuring a pre-production version demonstrating the new extra-long suspension travel. If you’re impressed, the 2017 F-150 Raptor will go on sale this fall, and according to a leaked document it will start at $49,520 for the Supercab model whereas the Supercrew is going to set you back $52,505.

Source: Ford

Hide press release Show press release

The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor, the toughest, smartest, most capable Raptor ever, gets even more capability with help from a new set of FOX shocks –jointly developed by Ford and FOX to create a purpose-built setup exclusive to the off-road pickup.

The new 3.0-inch FOX shock adds a base valve piston that enables lower gas pressure, resulting in a more comfortable-riding truck on the road. The internal bypass in the front and rear shocks has nine distinct zones that progressively manage shock forces, allowing for smooth on-road trips along with hard-hitting off-road driving. The final zones act like hydraulic bump stops to send fluid through the top of the piston while the shock is fully compressed, preventing Raptor from bottoming out. This allows Raptor to maintain a comfortable ride, and leads to improved confidence for the driver to explore all of its extra-long suspension travel.

F-150 Raptor’s front and rear FOX shocks have grown from 2.5 inches to 3.0 inches in diameter for improved performance – offering 44 percent more volume for increased heat dissipation and fade resistance. Nearly two inches more suspension travel over the previous truck’s 11.2-inch front and 12.0-inch rear bring 2017 F-150 Raptor shocks to 13.0 inches at the front and 13.9 inches at the rear – roughly a 15 percent increase in overall suspension travel.

With a larger-diameter outer body and internal piston, the new FOX shocks allow Raptor to handle harder impacts while reducing harshness to the driver.